Quality of Life Variables Assessment, Before and After Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD): Prospective Study

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of pancreatic cancer is a complex problem, due to late diagnosis, the need for specialized surgical treatment, the large number of relapses and poor survival.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of life of patients with periampulary pancreatic cancer before and after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD).

MATERIAL & METHOD: The sample was collected in the "Attikon" University General Hospital (Chaidari). It consists of 20 subjects with a mean age of 65.9 years (SD = 10,2 years). For the quality of life measurement, we used the (EORTC) QLQ-C30 version 3.0., as well as the EORTC QOL-PAN26.

RESULTS: From the sample of 20 patients who participated, full data were collected for 18 of them during the first month, 17 during the third month and 16 during the sixth month.

Regarding symptoms, as they were recorded with the QLQ-30 questionnaire, there was a significant increase of fatigue, a significant reduction of pain and constipation, while economic difficulties increased. As for the mean and median values for the dimensions of the PAN-26 questionnaire during monitoring, there was a significant decrease in pancreatic and liver pain symptoms during follow-up, while the gastrointestinal symptoms increased in frequency. In addition, the body image and sexuality worsened.

CONCLUSIONS: The surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer with pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), according to the early survey data using the (EORTC) QLQ-C30 version3.0, and the EORTC QOL-PAN26 questionnaires, seems to have a favorable impact on quality of life, as evidenced by the improvement of most parameters evaluated during the study period.